Chavez optimistic SC will uphold single-rep rule for Congress

Francisco Chavez. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former solicitor-general Francisco Chavez said he remains optimistic the Supreme Court will later render a final ruling that Congress should only have one representative to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Chavez considered Friday’s ruling as “a balancing act on the part of the Supreme Court on the probabilities of congressional overrepresentation or under-representation.”

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Congress to have two representatives to the Judicial and Bar Council only for the ongoing selection of the next chief justice.

Also read SC lets Congress have two representatives to JBC

The high tribunal, acting on a joint motion for reconsideration petition filed by the Senate and the House of Representatives, removed the “immediately executory” phrase from its July 17 ruling, which earlier ordered the JBC to allow only one representative of Congress.

Chavez said he remains confident that the high court will affirm its July 17, 2012 ruling that there should only be one representative from Congress to the JBC, citing constitutional provisions.

“I stand firm on my belief that the decision on July 17, 2012 can withstand the grounds raised in the motion for reconsideration. I am confident too that it will weather this temporary storm even if the matter is submitted to the full court including those who may have earlier inhibited themselves as they submitted themselves to the selection process for the chief justice position,” Chavez said in a statement.